Method and machine for operating on sheet material



March 28, 1944.

i U uni-6 C. A. MOELLER METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHEETMATERIAL Filed Feb. 18, 1941 1.? in In II III 52 l R 4:11 11:: l:

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fa". II II kw d l-EZNCH KOUH! March 28, 1944. c. A.MOELLER 2,345,411

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL mm m. 18, 1941 8Sheets-Sheet 3 OCGWH NCOF'F vv- ||u l-H mnmu. nu i U 4 Search Room 5 8 2March 28, 1944. Q A MOELLER 2,345,411

METHOD CHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHEET KAI'BRIAL Find an. 18. 1941 aSheets-Sheet 4 March 28, 1944. c. A. MOELLER METHOD AND MACHINE FOROPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Fob. 18. 1941 8 Sheets-Shoot 5 050mmHu warm K00 March 28, 1944.' c. A. MOELLER 2,345,411

METHOD AND CHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 18, 1941 8Sheets-Sheet 6 March 28, 1944. Q MOELLER 2,345,411

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON snns'r MATERIAL Filod Feb. 18, 19418 Sheets-Sheet 7 cooooooo Q; 2000 I 322 r A? March 28, 1944.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL C. A. MOELLER FiledFeb. 18, 1941 uuuiuil 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 40 fig/31 40 111% 381 I 30 42/ J638 42) M W l f@-22 ,a l u 5v? @Z-L 389%? 1 1 24 I L E 1: 4M.

WimesJ WM WW Patented Mar; 28, 1944 METHOD AND MACHINE-FOR OPERATING ONSHEET MATERIAL Carl A. Moellcr, Randolph; Masa, asslgnor to'No'r.

The present inven ion relates to methods and machines for operatl-g onsheet material, particularly a web of paper'or the like, and isprimarily but by no means exclusively concerned nearlythat of the webitself, to avoid buckling or tearing of the material. If, in addition, anumber of different operations are to be permaterial.

folk Paper 00., Inc., Randolph, l VIass a corporation of MassachusettsApplication February 18,1941, vseriaiiixia.:iiaaaz 1 22 Claims. (01. ee-5&2)

ing 7 the operation .of'. the mechanisms .on. said.

Another object of the invention is .toprovide a method and a .machinefor forming box: blanks at with machines for makingblanks which are sub-5 high speed from .a continuously advancingweb sequently to be formedinto boxes. of material, .particularlymdapted :for producing To attainthe high production rate necessary accurately formed blanksiofvariouszshapesand for economical manufacture of box blanks,-it is sizes.4 a T': 3

essential that the various blank forming opera- Still anotherobject ofathe'inventionlis to protions be performed at high speeds and as nearly10' vide a machine'havingnovel and improvedzcutas possible automaticallyfrom start to finish. off mechanism, wherebysuccessive-sheets, of me-"While many of the machines heretofore devised determined length mayberapidly and-accurately have been so arranged that the material, either-cut from a continuously advancing-web of matein web form or inindividual sheets, is stopped at rial. 'j 1' I =one-or more of thevarious stations-at which the i5 rMore specifically, itlis =an obiect.of. the invenblank forming operations are performed, true tion toprovidein 'a machine employing a;rotathigh speed operationrequires that thematerial ing member for.operatinglperiodically; upon a pass through themachine continuously, either moving web of material,-novel mechanism foraca'succession of individual sheets, but prefer-- tu'ating saidmemberltooperateion the material ably in web form. Where the entireoutput of a at'adiustable predetermined intervals whilelcausmachine canbe devoted to but one size of blank, ing the peripheral speed ofthemembenthrougha continuous feed type of machine may be devised out theperiod of operation onthe materiahto be without undue diiliculty. If,however, a machine substantially equal to the linear. speed 'of:the web.is to be capable of forming blanks of various sizes In accordance withthese-and other objects as and still operate at high speeds, thenserious willher'einafter appear,.a featureoftthe present problems arepresented which have heretofore invention involves the-provisiomofamachinefor not been satisfactorily solved. The difficulties in formingbox blanksfrom a continuously advancproviding such a machine willbecomeapparent ing web of material,:the machine havinga plufrom the followingconsiderations. a ty o Op a Stations for Operating P If sheets ofvarious lengths are to be cut from 80 the materialas itpasses, rotatingdevicesat the "'-a continuously advancing web of material, or itstations for operation -upon -the material, and any given operation intheweb is to berepeated mean f rivi e rot in evic omp isat either longeror shorter intervals along the ins niformly rotatinsm a s' a t a d Pwebythen the frequency at which the operation cally to synchronize-thespeed of ithe operating "is repeated must beadjustable, more often forrnember Wlththe peed 01' he Web ur ll the shorter lengths or spacing andless often for tim he members p a iv e e he we -longer lengths orspacing. In any case, however, As another feature. the inventioncomprises a. the speed of the web-engaging portion of the machine havingmechanism'for' cutting off sheets operating device, during the period ofoperation of pre ete ed le l ffi ntin us y upon the web, must be soadjusted as to be very 4o vancing webof material the cut-ofimeans-comprising a rotating blade driven by a worm .uniformly rotated ata speed such that the desired length of web is fedlbetween successive.cuts, the

' formed successively-onthe material, then besides worm being m d bodilyduring the cutting the adjustments above specified the spacing be 45operation to synchronize-theperiphe l Speed 01 5c; tween the variousoperating stations must be adthe cutting blade with the linear speed'ofthe web. ii iustable longitudinally of the direction of feed of Otherfeatures ofthe invention include -n ove1 s the material. mechanism forforming slots in the advancing The present invention has as an object,therematerial transversely of the direction of feed, fore, to provide amethod and a machine for per- 5 novel cieasingmechanism.forformingtransverse forming a plurality of operations upon continufold linesinthe advancing .materiaLand other ously advancing sheet material,wherein the spacing-between, operations on the material may .beu'eadilyadjusted Whi18, nevertheless-the movement of the operating mechanismsmay be synzchronized with the advance of the material dill? Iconstructions and arrangements hereinafter described.

5 and rr n ed mroduc bQxJbIanksof-the type shown in United StatesLetters Patent No. 2,166,287 of C. Lloyd Clafl, although the machine maybe so adjusted and arranged as to produce a wide variety of types ofblanks, while in addition certain mechanisms of the machine are welladapted for use in many difierent types of machines which are requiredto operate upon moving material.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, Fig. 1 is a topplan view and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the complete machine; Fig, 3 isa top plan view of the web of material showing the effect of the variousoperations as the material passes through the machine; Fig. 4 is a sideelevation, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of themachine midway its ends; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of theend or deliveryportion of the machine; Fig. 6 is a perspective of onepair of rolls for forming the longitudinal creases in the web; Fig. 7 isa perspective of the cutting mechanism for severing the individualblanks from the web; Fig. 8 shows in vertical, transverse section a pairof slotting or punching reels for cutting the transverse slots extendinginwardly from the margin of the web, and Fig. 9 shows the same, partlyin vertical longitudinal section, and at right angles; Fig. 10 is aperspective, with parts broken away, of one of the reels; Fig. 11 showsin transverse sectional view a pair of transverse creasing reels, andFig. 12 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the same; Fig. 13is a perspective view, with parts cut away, of one of the creasingreels; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the driving mechanism for thevarious feeding and operating stations; Fig. 15 is a detail view, partlyin section, of a portion of such mechanism; Fig. 16 is a view inelevation of one set of punching or slotting reels and a portion of thedriving mechanism therefor; Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view ofanother portion of the driving mechanism; Fig. 18 is a top plan view ofthe positioning mechanism for adjusting one of the operating stationslongitudinally of the machine frame; and Figs. 19 to 27 show a portionor section of the web as it appears at different stages in its progressthrough the machine.

The machine embodying the invention is arranged to form finished boxblanks of the type described in the aforesaid patent in a continuousprocess from box blank materials supplied to the machine in web formfrom large rolls. The machine is made up of a number of stations, atcertain of which the various blank-forming operations are performed,while at others the material is merely fed or guided. In the views ofthe complete machine, Figures 1 and 2, the various stations areidentified as follows:

F-slotter for cutting second set of marginal slots.

G-feed rolls. H-creaser for transverse creases. I-creaser for first pairof longitudinal creases.

J-creaser for second pair of longitudinal creases.

K-feed rolls. L-cut-ofl for severing completed blanks. Mconveyer beltfor removing severed blanks.

The various operations in the production of blanks like those of PatentNo. 2,166,287 above referred to, as performed by the machine atdiiferent stages in the passage of the materials therethrough, areillustrated in Figure 3 and on a larger scale in the detail viewsFigures 19-27 inclusive. The web of cardboard indicated at 30 is drawnfrom a supply 32 and is of a width equal to the desired length offinished blank which in cludes end wings and end wing extensions 34 and36 respectively (see Figure 27). At station C slots 38 are cut in themargin of the cardboard, these being the slots for reducing the heightof the corner laps 40 to provide flush sides and ends when the blank isset-up, as disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

At station D, reenforcing tapes 42 from rolls 44 are first applied alongthe edges of the cardboard over the slots 38 (Figure 21), and then coverpa per 46 from the web 41 is assembled with the tapes and cardboard(Figure 22), adhesive being applied to the tapes and cover paper byrolls 48 as the materials are drawn from the supply rolls. Next are cutthe slots 50 through the assembly (Figure 23) to separate the cornerlaps 40 from the end wings 34, this being done at station F.

Transverse creases 52, which form the longitudinal fold lines for theside walls of the box, are produced in the assembly at station H, thesecreases being aligned with the marginal slots 38 and 50 (see Figure 24).Creases 54 and 56 for the end wing extensions and end wings are producedby longitudinal creasing rolls at stations I and J, while finishedblanks (Figure 27) are severed from the web by the cut-off mechanism atstation L and carried away by the conveyor belt at station M. Havingindicated the nature and sequence of the various operations in theformation of one type of box blank, the machine itself will now beconsidered, the individual stations being treated in detail.

The mechanisms which make up the various stations are carried on siderails 60 which extend the full length of the machine, thus providingaccurate alignment and spacing of the devices. The web is advancedthrough the machine of pairs of feed rolls 62 at stations D, G, and K,the roll shafts 64 being supported on pedestals 66 secured to the frame60, with the upper rolls journalled in bearing blocks 68 urgeddownwardly under the pressure of springs 16 adjustable by stud 12 (seeFigure 4). Intermeshing gears 14 connect the upper and lower roll shafts(see Figure 5), the lower shafts being driven in unison through gearboxes 16 from a feed roll shaft 18 extending along the side of themachine (see Figure 1). As illustrated at station K (Figure 5), the feedrolls may be separated slightly by means of a hook engaging the shaftand adapted to be raised by hand lever 82 acting through eccentricbearing 84 on pivot shaft 86.

The material is supported and guided in its passage to the firstslotter, station C, and to the second slotter, station F, by means ofchannel members or guides 88 at stations B and E. The members 88 aremoved inwardly or outwardly to accommodate various widths of webmaterial while maintaining the web centrally positioned in the machine.For this purpose, cross rods 88 journalled in pedestals 92 (see Figure4) are provided with left and right hand threads on opposite sides ofthe center line, with correspondingly threaded bearing blocks 94 carriedby the rods and having the channel members secured thereto. Rotation ofone rod of each pair by handwheel 88 simultaneously adjusts the otherthrough sprockets 88 and connecting chain I00, insuring that the channelmembers 88 are always parallel and equidstant from the center line ofthe machine.

The creasing of the assembled web of cardboard, tapes, and covermaterial for the fold lines 54 and 56 is performed at stations I and Jand is continuous along the web. The principal adjustment is thereforethe positioning of the crease lines transversely of the direction of webadvance. The creasing mechanism, best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6,comprises cooperating pairs of creasing rolls freely rotatable on crossshafts I02, the upper shaft being urged downwardly by springs andadjusting screws in the same manner as the feed rolls. The upper rollsI04 are formed with a bead or rib I06, while the lower rolls I08 have acomplementary groove IIO into which the assembled blank materials may beforced by the rib I06 as the web assembly is fed between the rolls.

The rolls are adjusted transversely by means of rods II2 threaded inright hand direction on one side of the center line and in left hand direction on the other side like the rods 90 for the web guides. The rodscarry threaded nuts II4 to which are secured U-shaped members II6between the arms of which the creasing rolls are axially positionedalthough freely rotatable. The nuts likewise have secured theretoextensions II8 which engage the rod at points spaced from the nuts toprevent twisting and binding of the nuts on the rods. The upper andlower rods of each unit are adjusted simultaneously by means of a handcrank I20 on the upper rod, which rotates the lower rod through gearsI22 and idler I24.

The slotting operations which are carried out at stations and F areperformed by slotting reels best illustrated in Figures 8, 9, and 10.Except for adjustment for different slot spacings, the slotting reels atthe two stations are similar, those illustrated being adjusted to cutthe slots 38, which, being nearest the longitudinal edges of thefinished blanks, are more closely spaced in the continuous web. Theupper reel, indicated generally at I30, is provided with knife bladesI32 having serrated cutting edges I34, while the lower reel I36 carriesshear plates or members I38 between which the blades enter during theslotting operation.

The slotting blades are carried on cross bars I40 secured at their endsto segments I42. The segments are provided with arcuate ribs I=44 whichfit within annular channels I46 formed in the inner faces of the reelhead I48. By loosening clamping screws I50 which pass through thearcuate slots II in the heads, the segments, and thus the slottingblades and cooperating shear plates may be readily adjusted about theperiphery of the reel to change the position of the slots in the web.The reels are likewise bodily adjustable along their supporting shaftsI52, long keys I54 maintaining the reels in fixed angular position onthe shafts while set screws I56 secure the parts in adjusted position.

The blades are supported radially against the thrust of the operationthrough the provision on the cross bar I40 of shoulders I62 againstwhich the inner edges of the blades rest. To permit the blades to rockslightly relative to their supporting bars I40 so that the blades mayenter and withdraw from the shear plates I38 without catching or bindingthereon, yielding connections are provided in the form of compressionsprings I64 between the heads of the securing bolts I68 and the bladesI32. In normal position, with the blades in contact with the cross bars,the blades are not radially directed, but are inclined slightly (see dotand dash line I68 in Figure 8) in order that, on entering the work, theblades may be more nearly normal thereto. As the blades pass through theweb assembly and enter between the shear plates I38, they are drawn awayfrom their supporting bars against the force of springs I64, by reasonof the greater radius of the path taken by the point of contact of theblades with the shear plates, as compared with the radius of the shearplates. Since both wheels rotate at the same rate, the outer portion ofthe slotting blades is retarded from its normal peripheral speed, theretardation accordingly increasing until the blades are fully withdrawn,whereupon they snap back to normal position against the cross barspreparatory to the next cut. Such arrangement, coupled with the factthat the shear plates I38 are shaped as at I10 to provide clearance backof their shearing edges within which the blades may rock, provides asmoothly running mechanism by which the slots may be accuratelypositioned and cleanly cut.

During the slotting operation, the central portion of the web ofmaterial is gripped by rolls I12 and I14 mounted on the shafts I52between the slotting reels. The lower roll I14 is shown as cylindrical,while the upper roll I12 is provided with lands I16 which occupy arcs ofa length somewhat greater than that of each pair of slotting blades. Theradius of the lands is such that the material is gripped between thelower roll I14 and the lands I16 of the upper roll while the slotting istaking place, thus insuring synchronism between the peripheral speed ofthe slotting blades and the linear speed of the web, as will more fullybe described hereinafter.

The creasing reels, for producing in the assembled materials thetransverse creases which in the finished blanks are the longitudinalfold lines 52, are carried on supporting shafts I at station H. Thereels, best illustrated in Figures 11, 12, and 1.3, are provided withcircular heads I82 like those of the slotting reels. The heads I82 arekeyed to the shafts and have formed in their inner faces annular groovesI83 to receive arcuate, bosses I84 formed in the ends of cross bars I86having a segmental shape of section. The bars of the upper reel areformed with a transverse projecting bead I88, while the bars of thelower reel have a complementary groove I80 into which the blank formingmaterials are pressed by the bead. Like the slotting blades, thecreasing bars are adjustable around the reels to provide the desiredspacing of the creases, screws I92 passing through arcuate slots I93 inthe heads serving to secure the bars in adjusted Position.

The cut-off mechanism (station L and Figures 5 and 7) employs a fixedcutter bar and a rotating cutter reel. The cutter bar, indicated at 200,is carried by a cross member 202 vertically adjustable in pedestals 204by means of screws 206. The cutter reel comprises knife blades 2I0secured to reel heads 2I2 which are keyed and clamped to the shaft 2I4journalled in the pedestals.

The blanks, after being severed from the web by the cut off mechanism,slide onto an endless 'belt conveyer 2 I 6 driven by chain 2 I 8 andsprockets 220 from the lower feed roll shaft 64 of station K and arethus carried from the machine as fast as produced.

In order to permit adjustment of the spacing between the variousoperations which require positioning longitudinally of the web, such asthe slotting, transverse creasing, and cut-oil, it is necessary that thestations themselves be bodily adjustable toward and from one anotheralong the machine. Accordin y, while one station, in the case of theillustrative embodiment the first slotter, station C, may be fixed, thestations at F, H, and L are arranged to be movable bodily along the siderails 60 of the machine frame.

To this end, the pedestals for the operating mechanisms of -,the movablestations are formed on their under sides with guideways which fit overways 224 mounted on the side rails 60 (see Figures 5, 7, and 18). Across shaft 226 journalled in the lower portion of the pedestals carriesgears 228 which mesh with racks 230 secured to the rails 60, so thatupon rotation of the shaft by hand crank 232 the station mechanism maybe moved as a unit along the rails. After the proper setting is obtainedby reference to scale 234 and cooperating pointer 286, the pedestals maybe positively clamped to the rails by studs 238.

The slotting, creasing, and cut-01f mechanisms at stations C, F, H and Lare driven from a common shaft 240 extending along the right hand sideof the machine as viewed in Figures 14 and 16. Worms 242 keyed to theshaft 248 (see Figure 4) mesh with gears 244 on the lower shafts of theoperating devices at each station, the upper shaft being rotated byintermeshing gears 246.

The main or longitudinal drive shafts 18 and 240 are rotated from acommon source of power, such as the electric motor 250, through variablespeed driving mechanisms (shown in Figure 14) by which the speed of bothshafts may be varied together, thus increasing or decreasing the speedof the machine as a whole, or the speed of drive shaft 240 variedrelative to that of the feed r011 shaft 18, to increase or decrease thefrequency of operations in relation to web travel, and thus change theblank width. The feed roll drive shaft 18 is driven by multiple V belt252 from a countershaft 254 journalled in bearings 256, the countershaftin turn being connected by clutch 258 through a Reeves" type variablespeed transmission to the driving motor 250. The transmission comprisescountershaft pulley 260, V belt 262, and motor pulley 264, the latterhaving one fixed and one spring pressed, axially movable flange. Themotor is raised or lowered to increase or decrease the radius ofrotation of the belt around the motor pulley by means of hand wheel 266which rotates screw 268 to advance or retract block 210, rocking motorplatform 212 about its pivot 214 through links 216.

The drive shaft 240 on the right hand side of the machine is actuatedthrough a second "Reeves" type variable speed transmission, theadjustable pulley 218 being carried on countershaft 254 and drivingthrough V belt 288 a pulley 282 on a second countershaft 284 connectedto the shaft 240 by multiple V belt 286. The speed of shaft 240 iscontrolled by hand wheel 288 which rotates threaded rod 290 (see Fig. toraise or lower arm 292 on which is mounted an idler pulley 284, thusdecreasing or increasing the radius of operation of the belt 280 in theself-adjusting pulley 218.

In setting up the machine for the production of any given size of blank,the first variable speed transmission is adjusted to provide the desiredspeed of web travel, which determines the rate of production. Next thespeed of drive shaft 240 is adjusted relative to the feed roll drivingshaft 18 so that the desired spacing between successive operations ofany one station is obtained, a decrease in blank size being obtained byincreasing the shaft speed to permit less material to pass the stationbetween successive operations thereof, while larger blank sizes areobtained by slowing down the frequency of operations. Having obtainedthe correct shaft peed, the stations whose devices are driven from theshaft 240 are adjusted along the machine frame as heretofore describedso that the later operations in the blank forming sequence occur at theproper points on the web relative to the earlier-performed operations.

If it happens that the desired blank size is such that the spacingbetween successive operations is exactly equal to a semi-circumferenceof the various operating devices or reels, the devices will be rotatedat a speed such that the peripheral speed of the operating devices isequal to the linear speed of the web, and the devices need merely berotated at this uniform speed from shaft 248. In the majority of cases,however, the blank width will not be equal to a semi-circumference ofthe operating reels, and the reels will be turning at a rate such thattheir surface speed may be either faster or slower than the speed of theweb. Accordingly, if the operations are to be performed without tearingor buckling the web, the speed of the devices must be altered so that,while each operation is being performed, the peripheral speed of thedevices is made substantially equal to the linear speed of the web.

In view of the fact that certain of the operating devices, for examplethe slotters and the transverse creaser, require an appreciable portionof each half-revolution of the devices to complete an operation on theweb, it is neces sary not only that actual synchronism be establishedbut also that it be maintained for the duration of the operation. As aconsequence, arrangements such as employed in simple cutting offmechanisms or flying shears wherein an operating device is constantlyaccelerated and decelerated, the operation being performed at thatinstant in the cycle of continually changing speed when the speed of thedevice and that of the material are equal, are of no value in thepresent machine, since synchronism cannot be maintained throughout theperiods of operative engagement of the blank forming devices with theweb.

In the machine of the present invention, mechanisms are provided whichare adjustable, independently of either the longitudinal position of theoperating stations or the speed at which they are driven by drive shaft240, to cause the peripheral speed of the devices to be substantiallyequal to the linear speed of the web throughout the time interval duringwhich each operation is taking place. During the period of time betweenoperations, when the devices are out of engagement with the web, thespeed of the devices is altered in the reverse manner, so that theactual frequency of operations, or number of revolutions per unti oftime, is dependent solely on the speed or drive shaft 248, as determinedby the second "Reeves transmission between counter-shaft 254 and shaft240.

Periodic alteration in the speed of the blank forming devices iseffected by moving the worms 242 bodily in an axial direction along theshaft 248, long keyways permitting movement of the keys 302 along withthe worms so as to rotatably connect the worms to the shaft over asubstantial range of axial movement. The worms, during their axialmovement, operate in the manner of a rack, the rotative movement whichthey thus impart to the gears 244 during their axial movement beingeither additive or subtractive with reference to the rotationindependently imparted thereto through rotation of the worms. In thepresent machine, the worms are given a reciprocatory movement axially,the major portion of the reciprocation being at a substantially uniformbut adjustable rate and in timed relation to the rotation of theoperating devices.

The worms are reciprocated in unison by a longitudinally movableconnecting rod 304, which may be a hollow pipe or sleeve for lightnessand hence reduced inertia. The rod extends substantially the length ofth machine below and parallel to the drive shaft 240 on which the worms242 are slidably arranged. The ends of the worms are engaged, withintervening thrust bearings 308, by sleeves 308 (see Figures 4 and 17)surrounding the driving shaft and within which the shaft is journalled,the sleeves being axially slidable relative to the shaft and to the wormand gear housing 3I0 carried by the pedestals of the operating stations.The outer ends of the sleeves are clamped in the upper ends of arms 3I2,the arm ends being bored and split for this purpose. The lower ends ofthe arms 3I2 are similarly arranged for securing to th connecting rod384. A spacing rod 3I4 provided with reduced end portions 3I8 andclamping nuts 3I8 stiflens the assembly and prevents spreading of thesleeves 308.

To prevent the escape of lubricant from the gear housing along thekeyways- 300, half-thickness or flush keys 328 are provided which extendbeyond the ends of sleeves 308. The keys are secured to collars 322which are in turn clamped to the drive shaft by set screws 324,sufficient spacing being left between the inner end of the keys topermit reciprocations of worms 242 and worm keys 302.

The connecting rod 304 is reciprocated longitudinally to shift the wormsaxially by cam actuated connections which are adjustable to vary boththe magnitude and the direction of the alteration in speed. Theseconnections comprise a cam disc 330 mounted on a cross shaft 332 whichis driven from the lower shaft I52 of the first slotting station C, attwice the speed thereof, by chain 334 and sprockets 338 and 338 onshafts I52 and332 respectively (see Figure 16). The cam disc is providedwith a cam groove 348 on one face thereof, which is engaged by afollower on a cam lever 342 secured to a rock shaft 344 (see Figures 4and 16 carried in supporting bearings 348 and 348. At its outer end therock shaft is provided with an arm 358 having a slot 352 extending fromone end across the cen ter line of the rock shaft to the other arm end.

Mounted adjacent arm 350 is a cross head member 354 slidably mounted onupper and lower guide rods 356 and having secured in split sleeve 358one end of the connecting rod 304,

UCQI DH The cross head member is provided with a vertical slot 388within which is adiustably clamped a pin 382 provided with a roller 384received within the slot 352 in the arm 350. By raising or lowering theconnecting pin 382 in the slot, not only may the speed of thereciprocating stroke be altered, but its direction may be reversed, bymoving the pin to the other side of the center line of rock shaft 344.

The cam groove 348 is shaped to provide a substantially uniform rise andfall throughout the major portions of its operating faces, in order thatthe worms may be moved at substantially uniform speed throughoutsubstantially the duration of the reciprocating stroke. By reason of thefact that the cam disc turns one revolution for every half-revolution ofthe operating device, for example, of the slotting rolls shown in Figure4, one portion of the cam groove, the rise" 338, is traversed by thefollower when the slotting blades I32 and lands I18 are in engagementwith the work, while the fall ass of the cam groove is traversed whenthe operating parts are out of engagement with the work. The riseportion of the groove occupies less than one-half a revolution of thecam disc for the reason that a pair of slotting blades and correspondingland engage the web for less than a quarter revolution of rotation, theinoperative or idle portions of each revolution being occupied byrotation of the device at a rate altered from the constant valuecondition in the opposit direction from that of the operative portion.

To relieve the cam and other parts of the worm reciprocating mechanismof the axial thrust developed in driving the operating devices byrotation of the worms, means are provided at each station tosubstantially offset the normal thrust of the worm. As shown in Figure4, each gear housing 3I8 has secured to its under side a thrust sleeve318 through which slides the spacing rod 3. The spring 312 sliding onsaid rod and bearing at one end against the sleeve 310 and at the otherend against a nut 314 urges the sleeves 308 to the left with a forcewhich may be adjusted so as approximately to balance the axial thrust ofthe worm to the right at the particular speed of rotation of drive shaft240. Since each station is similarly equipped, as shown in Figure 2, theconnecting rod 384 and its actuating mechanism need only withstand theforces involved in changing the speed of the devices.

In the design of the machine, the radius of such operating devices asthe cut-off reel and the creasing and slotting reels is preferablychosen so that blanks of average or intermediate size are produced whenthe operating devices are running at constant speed with theirperipheral speed equal to the linear speed of the web. If blanks are tobe produced of larger size than this so-called average or intermediatesize, then, for the same speed of web travel, there must be longerintervals or time between operations, and the spacing between stationsmust be increased. Also, since longer intervals of time betweenoperations means slower rotation of the devices, the speed of therotating devices must be increased for the duration of each operation.Accordingly, the connecting pin 382 will be moved from its "zeroposition in align ment with rock shaft 344 upwardly an amount dependingon how much the blank size is to be increased.

Conversely, where the blank size is to be decreased, below that of theaverage or intermediate size, the spacing between stations will bedecreased, and the drive shaft 240 speeded up so that each operationwill occur more often, which means at more closely spaced intervalsalong the web. Since, however, the peripheral speed of the operatingdevices is now greater than the linear speed of the web, the connectingpin 362 will have to be moved to a position below the center of rockshaft 3, with the result that the devices are slowed down for theduration of each operation, and speeded up above normal for theremainder of the time.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, those stations which carry out on thematerial the actual blank forming operations are spaced, of necessity,several operations apart along the web. By so doing, however, a widerange of blank sizes can be produced without requiring extreme changesin the positions of the stations performing the later operations in thesequence. By having the stations spaced at some multiple of the spacingbetween operations, changes in size can be adjusted for by moving theindividual stations to the nearest point where the operation is to beperformed for the new size blank. It has been found in practice that thedesired range in blank sizes may readily be obtained with but relativelyshort rangesof longitudinal adjustment for the individual stations, sothat in many cases changes in the position of the stations do notrequire corresponding changes in the position of arms 3|! on connectingrod 304 by which the worms are reciprocated.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in abox blank machine of particular construction and arrangement, adaptedfor the production of one type of box blank, the invention is not solimited, but may be embodied in machines arranged to form blanks ofother types and to carry out blank fonning operations according tovarious sequences of steps. Neither is the invention limited to amachine for operating on paper or like materials, since certainmechanisms of the machine are well adapted for performing other types ofoperations upon many different kinds of moving material.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device, comprising a worm rotatedat uniform speed to space the operations of the device along thematerial, and means under control of the device-rotating mechanism formoving the worm axially during operation of the device on the materialto synchronize temporarily the peripheral speed of the device with thelinear speed of the material.

2. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device, comprising a member adaptedto be rotated at a uniform rate to space the operations of the devicealong the material, and means actuated periodically by thedevice-rotating mechanism during successive operations of the device onthe material for moving the member axially at a uniform rate tosynchronize the peripheral speed of the device with the linear speed ofthe material for the duration of each operation.

3. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device,

5 comprising a worm rotated at a uniform rate to space the operationsalong the material, and means actuated by the device-rotating mechanismin timed relation to the rotation of the de vice for reciprocating theworm axially to synchronize the peripheral speed of the device with thelinear speed of the material while the device is operating thereon.

4. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device, comprising a, worm, andmeans for periodically changing the rate of rotation of the device, saidmeans comprising a cam and connections actuated therefrom forreciprocating the worm axially.

5. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device, comprising a worm, andmeans for periodically changing the rate of rotation of the device, saidmeans comprising a cam and connections actuated therefrom forreciprocating the worm axially, said connections comprising a rockingmember, a reciprocating member, and connections between the rockingmember and the reciprocating member adjustable towards and from thepivotal center of the rocking member to regulate the axial movementimparted to the worm.

6. A machine for operating on continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device, comprising a worm, adriving shaft for rotating the worm at a uniform rate, means forreciprocating the worm in an axial direction along the driving shaft tochange the rate of rotation of the device, and resilient means forsupporting 45 the reciprocating means against the axial thrust of theworm through rotation thereof.

7. A machine for operating on a continuously advancing, web of sheetmaterial, comprising a plurality of operating stations spacedlongitudinally of the direction of the web advance, rotatable devices atcertain of the stations adapted to perform repetitious operations atspaced intervals along the web, mechanism for operating said devicescomprising a worm at each of said stations, a common shaft for rotatingthe worms at uniform speed, and means for reciprocating the wormsaxially during operation of the devices on the web to temporarily changethe speed of the devices to effect substantial synchronism between theperipheral speed of the devices and the linear speed of the web.

8. A machine for operating on a web of continuously advancing sheetmaterial, comprising a plurality of operating stations arrangedlongitudinally of the direction of web advance, and having rotatabledevices adapted to perform repetitious operations at spaced intervalsalong the web, said stations being adjustable longitudinally of thedirection of web feed to change the spacing between operations, meansincluding a worm at each station and variable speed driving mechanismtherefor for spacing successive operations of each station atpredetermined intervals along the web, and synchronizing means foreffecting, 5 during the period of operation of the devices on the web,substantial synchronization of the peripheral speed of the devices withthe linear speed of the web, said synchronizing means comprising meansfor bodily moving the worms in an axial direction during said operatingperiod.

9. A machine for operating on sheet material, comprising feed rollsadapted to be rotated to advance the material, a device adapted to berotated to perform an operation on the material, means for rotating thefeed rolls, means including a rotating worm for rotating the operatingdevice, speed controlling means comprising mechanism for changing thespeed of the feed rolls, mechanism for changing the speed of rotation ofthe worm to vary the rate of rotation of the rotating operating devicerelative to the feed rolls and thereby change the distance along thematerial between successive operations of the device, and mechanismoperative on the worm to move the same in an axial direction duringoperation on the device on the material to cause the worm to drive thedevice temporarily at synchronous speed relative to the linear speed ofthe material.

10. In a machine for operating on moving sheet material, mechanism forcreasing the material transversely of its direction of movement,comprising cooperating rotatable creasing reels adapted to engageopposite sides of the material, said reels comprising head members andtransversely arranged creasing bars, the head members having annularchannels formed in the inner faces thereof, arcuate bosses on the endsof the creasing bars fitting within the annular channels in the headmembers, and means for securing the bars to the head members inperipherally adjusted position.

11. In a machine for operating on moving sheet material, mechanism forslotting the material transversely of its direction of movementcomprising cooperating rotating Weds adapted to engage opposite sides ofthe material, one of said reels comprising head members, crossbarscarried thereby, slotting blades carried by the cross-bars, means or r1y supporting said blades against radially directed thrust, andconnections for securing the blades to the crossbars arranged to permitslight yielding movement of the blades peripherally of the reel.

12. In a machine for operating on moving sheet material, mechanism forslotting th material transversely of its direction of movement at adjustably predetermined intervals, comprising rotatable cooperatingcreasing reels arranged on opposite sides of th a a, a slotting bladeand cooperating shear blades carried by the reels, means for rotatingthe reels at a rate to space the slots along the material, means foraltering the speed of the reels during a portion of each revolutionthereof to substantially synchronize the peripheral speed of the reelswith the linear speed of the material, and means rotating with the reelsadapted, during such times, to engage the material to aid in maintainingsynchronism between the reels and the material.

13. The method of operating upon a Web of box material continuouslyadvancing at a uniform rate to form varying sizes of box blanks by meansof a series of continuously rotating blank forming devices, which methodconsists in varying the spacings of the devices longitudinally of thesaid advancing web in accordance with such blank sizes, and temporarilyaltering such normal rate of rotation to synchronize the peripheralspeed of the devices with the linear speed 76 of the web while saiddevices are operating upon the web.

14. A machine for operating on sheet material comprising a plurality offeed rolls, means for rotating the rolls to advance the. material at auniform rate, a plurality of stations having operating devices adaptedto be rotated to perform operations on the moving material, mechanismrotating at a uniform rate for rotating the operating devices, means forperiodically reciprocating said mechanism axially to altersimultaneously the speed of the rotating devices to synchronize theirperipheral speed with the linear speed of the material during operationof the devices thereon, and speed control means including mechanism foradjusting the speed of rotation of the feed rolls, mechanism foradjusting the speed of rotation of the mechanism rotating the operatingdevices at a uniform rate to change the spacing between successiveoperations on the moving material, and means for adjusting the velocityof reciprocation of said rotating mechanism to vary the magnitude ofperiodical alteration in speed of the operating devices.

15. A machine for operating on a web of sheet material, comprising aplurality of feed rolls for advancing the material at a uniform rate, aplurality of operating stations arranged longitudinally of the directionof web feed and having rotatable devices for performing repetitiousoperations on the moving material, said stations being adjustablelongitudinally of the direction of web feed to change the spacingbetween operations, mechanism rotating at an adjustable uniform rate foroperating the rotating devices at a speed to space successive operationsof each station at predetermined intervals along the material, saidmechanism including driving connections to the rotating devices arrangedto permit independent longitudinal adjustment of the individual stationswithout change in relative angular position of said devices, and meansoperating periodically through said driving connections to alter inunison the speed of the rotating devices during operation on thematerial to synchronize their peripheral speed with the linear speed ofthe web.

16. The method of operating upon a web of sheet material continuouslyadvancing at a uniform rate by means of a plurality of continuouslyrotating devices, which method consists in imparting to said devices anormal rate of rotation to space successive operations of each device onthe web a predetermined distance, spacing the different deviceslongitudinally of the direction of web advance in accordance with thespacing between successive operations of a single station to effectregistration of the different operations on the web, and temporarilyaltering such normal rate of rotation of the devices to a valuesynchronizing the peripheral speed of the devices with the linear speedof the web while said devices are operating on the web.

17. A machine for operating upon a web of sheet material, comprising aplurality of feed rolls for advancing the material at a uniform rate, aplurality of operating stations arranged longitudinally of the directionof feed of the material and having rotatable devices for performingrepetitious operations on the moving web, driving means for rotating thedevices at an adjustable uniform rate to space successive operations ofeach device along the web of moving material, said operating stationsbeing adjustable longitudinally of the direction of web feed to changethe spacing between operations of the different cm li'OOll devices inaccordance with the spacing between successive operations of a singledevice, and supplementary means for temporarily varying the rate ofrotation of said devices to synchronize the peripheral speed of suchrotating devices with the linear speed of the advancing web materialwhile the devices are operating thereon.

18. A machine for operating upon continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device including a worm, a geardriven by said worm and connected with the rotatable device, a shaft forsupporting the worm, means for rotating the worm at a uniform speedindependently of axial movement thereof, and means engaging the worm andactuated by the deviceu'otating mechanism to impart reciprocatingmovement to the worm in an axial direction in timed relation to therotation of the device independently of the rotation thereof.

19. A machine for operating upon continuously advancing sheet material,comprising a rotatable device adapted to perform an operation on thematerial, mechanism for rotating the device including a worm, a geardriven by the worm and connected with the rotatable device, a shaft onwhich the worm is mounted in rotatably connected but axially slidablerelation, driving means for rotating the shaft at a uniform speed, andmeans actuated by the device-rotating mechanism for periodically movingthe worm axially along the shaft in timed relation to the rotation ofthe device to modify temporarily the speed of rotation of the device,said means including connections engaging the worm in relativelyrotatable but axially fixed relation.

20. A machine for operating upon a web of continuously advancing sheetmaterial, comprising a plurality of operating stations arrangedlongitudinally of the direction of web advance and having rotatabledevices for performing repetitious operations on the moving material, ashaft extending in the direction of web advance, a worm gear on theshaft at each operating station, gears driven by the worms and connectedwith the rotatable devices, said worms being mounted on the shaft inrotatably connected but axially slidable relation, driving means forrotating the shaft at a uniform speed, and means for moving the wormsaxially to modify temporarily the speed of rotation of the devices, saidmeans comprising a member arranged in parallel relation to theworm-supporting shaft, connections between the member and the individualworms for axially positioning the worms on the shaft, and meansoperating in time-controlled'relation to the rotation of the devices foractuating the member to move the worms simultaneously along the shaft.

21. In a machine for operating on moving sheet material, mechanism forslotting the material transversely of its direction of movementcomprising cooperating rotatable slotting reels, one of said reels beingprovided with slotting blades and the other reel being provided withshear plates, between which plates the slotting blades are adapted toenter and withdraw, the former reel being provided with blade supportingbars each having a shoulder to receive the radial thrust of the blade,headed studs passing loosely through the blade and fixed in the bars,and spring members interposed between the headed studs and the bladesfor yieldingly holding the blade against the bar to permit slightangular movement of the blade upon its supporting shoulder as the bladeenters and withdraws from its cooperating shear blades.

22. The method of periodically synchronizing the peripheral speed of anoperating device driven by gear and uniformly rotating worm with thelinear speed of continuously advancing material upon which the deviceoperates periodically, which consists in automatically imparting to theworm, in timed relation to the periodicity of operations of the device,axial movements of such direction and velocity that the resultantrotation of the gear drives the operating device periodically atperipherally synchronous speed with respect to the advancing material.

CARL A. MOELLER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2515,1 11. March 28, 191i.

CARL A. MoELLER.

" It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,second column, line 1+7, for "or" first occurrence, read "by"; page 3,first column, line 5, for "equidstant' read --equidistant-; page 5,first column, line 28, for "guides read -guides 88"; and second column,line 16, for "wheels' read --reels--; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conformtothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of Ma A. D. 192 1;.

. Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

